Bordentown 12-year-old All-Stars top Robbinsville

BORDENTOWN — They hit two home runs in the first inning and turned a double play in the last. It was that kind of day for the Bordentown Little League 12-Year-Old All-Stars.

It didn’t start out to be a great day for Bordentown in the District 12 tournament, but it ended that way.

With a few exceptions, most of the innings featured solid baseball played by Bordentown as it posted a 5-2 victory over Robbinsville yesterday at Northern Community Park.

The day started bleak for Bordentown which committed three errors in the top of the first as Robbinsville took a 1-0 lead. Robbinsville then retired the first two batters of the home half of the inning.

However, Brian Amantia connected with a fastball which tied the score, and after Dylan Decker singled, Jim Porcelli hit a two-run homer to put Bordentown back on track to post its second victory on the tournament trail.

Bordentown meets West Windsor in a winners’ bracket semifinal 6 p.m. July 2 at Robbinsville Little League’s field in Tantum Park.

Robbinsville, which pushed across a run in the final inning as it tried to stay out of the elimination bracket, will meet Ewing in a must-win game 6 p.m. Wednesday at Moody Park.

“Coach (manager Greg Gronostajski) told us to watch the pitcher to see what he’s pitching to get a good pitch to hit,” Amantia said. “Mine went to center field and (Porcelli’s) went to the same exact spot.”

Bordentown played back-to-back days since the tournament’s opening-night action was postponed due to Friday’s stormy weather.

“I couldn’t expect any more from these kids,” said Gronostajski. “We had some first-inning jitters, but the team worked hard and got it done.”

Urban, who allowed three hits and struck out seven, per the rules was allowed to finish pitching to his last batter which put him at 89 for a good day’s work.

“All my kids work hard,” said Gronostajski, who was greeted with cheers from the home crowd when he announced that the team was going to take a day off (today).

Bordentown got production up and down its lineup including a run in the fourth from the No. 9 spot. Super sub Zaire Fisher walked, went to second on a passed ball, and to third on Kyle Forcini’s second single of the game.

Fisher, whom Gronostajski described as “Lou Brock-like” avoided a rundown disaster as he dodged a tag and scored Bordentown’s final run.

“Zaire is another amazing kid,” Gronostajski said. “He has lightning quick speed. He had a home run yesterday, and today he used his feet.”

As far as the Bordentown Bombers are concerned, Gronostajski says that is not necessarily their intention but they’re happy with the result, nonetheless.

“We’re not going up there to do that,” said Gronostajski, whose team also hit three longballs in a 10-2 victory over Lawrence. “Our motto is ‘just make contact.’ The bonus (of good contact) is (the home runs).”